15 Different Types of Olive Trees (With Pictures)

Olive trees are a staple worldwide. They are regarded as one of the most popular trees because of their beautiful appearance and their tasty offshoots, including the fruit olive and olive oil. Not to mention, many gardeners love these trees, even fruitless ones, because of their gorgeous look.

Although there are dozens of olive tree types around the world, some are more popular than others. In this article, we will learn about these 15 popular types of olive trees. Most of these olive trees can be used for their fruit, gardening purposes, or both.

The 15 Different Types of Olive Trees

An olive tree is an excellent choice if you want to add some texture and life to your yard. However, you want to select the best olive tree based on the size of your garden, temperature, and ideal fruit production. Here are the most popular 15 olive tree varieties to consider planting.

1. Arbequina

The Arbequina olive tree is one of the largest olive trees, but you can maintain a smaller size through thorough pruning. It is from Spain and prefers temperatures like zones 8 through 10. This is one of the most popular olive trees for personal use.

2. Mission

The Mission olive tree is one of the most popular species in the United States. It was first developed in the state of California during the 18th century. Today, you can find the Mission olive tree in many California homes, but it is best if you specifically want the fruit since it is a high-producing tree.

3. Picholine

The Picholine olive tree is great if you want to grow an olive tree in a pot due to its size. The fruit produced has a spicy and nutty flavor, making it ideal for snacking and food purposes. If you want to eat the fruit, you can harvest it when it is green, but you need to allow it to turn black if you want to use it for oil.

4. Kalamata

The Kalamata olive tree is known for the Kalamata olive. It is the ancient symbol for peace – the olive branch. If you love Mediterranean food, the Kalamata olive tree may be the best choice for you.

5. Manzanilla

The Manzanilla olive tree is highly popular in the United States because it produces the most popular olive type. These olives are typically brine-cured and then stuffed with pimientos inside. In addition to producing the nation’s favorite olive, the tree is very beautiful, but it is susceptible to cold weather conditions.

6. Amfissa

Amfissa olives are often cured in brine like manzanilla olives. Sometimes, citric acid brine is used instead to create a more citrusy flavor on this olive. These trees can grow fast. So, they aren’t typically used for gardening purposes.

7. Nocellara Del Belice

The Nocellara del Belice olive tree produces bright green olives. Often, these trees are considered the best producers of olives because the fruit produced is very mild with a buttery texture. Even people who typically don’t like olives like this variety of tree.

8. Gordal Sevillano

The Gordal Sevillano olive tree produces a soft, chubby olive that can be stuffed with cheese, fruit, and pimentos. The tree itself almost has a willow-like appearance and a gnarled trunk that grows gracefully.

9. Niçoise

The Niçoise olive is a staple in southern France. It has a strong flavor and is often harvested in its more mature state. The trees typically have weeping branches, and olives can appear as soon as two years after planting.

10. Frantoio

The Frantoio olive tree is an Italian variety that is popular throughout Tuscany. It is a medium-large variety that is perfect for partial sun and cold conditions, such as Pacific Northwest locations.

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11. Wilsoni

The Wilsoni olive tree is one of the most popular fruitless olive trees. It is incredibly resistant to heat and drought conditions, making it a perfect choice for low water yards. Because it doesn’t produce fruit, you don’t have to worry about maintaining your yard while still enjoying the beautiful look.

12. Chemlali

The Chemlali olive tree is lesser known than most of the other olive trees on this list, but it is a great choice for compact yards. Even though it requires full sun, it is hardy to cold temperatures. The Chemlali tree is mainly used for olive oil production.

13. Coratina

Coratina olive trees can adapt to a variety of conditions and terrains. It is often used for olive oil production, but it is sometimes used for gardening since it can grow in poor soil conditions.

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14. Leccino

The Leccino olive tree is an Italian variety with beautiful branches and delicious fruit. It is known because it has an abnormal trunk that allows it to stand out from the rest. At the same time, Leccino olive trees can start producing fruit within a year or two, making them perfect for impatient growers.

15. Montra

The Montra olive tree is a bush variety. Because of its small size, it is perfect for small yards. You can even grow the Montra olive tree in pots. You will need to keep them pruned if you want to use these olives to create hedges and borders around your yard.

Related Read: 10 Different Types of Elm Trees

Conclusion

Any one of these olive trees would make a great addition to your home and garden. Not only will they fill up the space with vibrant life, but they will produce tasty fruit that you can snack on, all except the fruitless Wilsoni olive tree, of course!

Featured Image Credit: Hans Geel, Shutterstock